A device for sharpening skates. Skate sharpener: sharpening methods, important requirements. Devices and tools

Skates do not require special care. The main rules are to dry them after use, sharpen them on time and make sure that the blades do not become rusty. To do this you need a special skate sharpener. To sharpen them, it is not enough to use a sharpening machine; a U-shaped groove is machined into the blade.

Several reasons to regularly sharpen your skates:

the athlete gains confidence and a sense of perseverance on the ice;
well-sharpened blades help control balance on ice;
sharp blades help perform rotations, accelerate and perform elements;
sliding becomes smoother;
A dull blade increases the risk of injury.

Devices and tools

Let's look at what tools there are for sharpening skates with your own hands:

Abrasive touchstone - slingshot for skates with plastic handle. On-line editing of blades. The tool removes burrs left after sharpening. The movements are carried out smoothly, without pressure, so as not to cut off the groove. To get the best results, it is recommended to use lubricant or wet the blades with running water. They only trim the blades, but do not sharpen them.
A whetstone is an abrasive material for straightening a blade after sharpening.
Edge Again is a handheld, portable skate sharpener.

What is the best way to sharpen?

Each equipment owner decides independently which device to use for sharpening skates. Procedure at home, or hand sharpener for skating will not replace a professional one, especially for serious sports.

Sharpening machines

The most popular machines for sharpening skates are nordway and ProSharp, they have been tested in practice. Instructions on how to use the Nordway machine:

Turn on the machine.
When the circle's motion becomes stationary, apply the blade to the circle, pointing it to the left, against the disc, along the edge.
Repeat the procedure three times, adjusting the shape of the edge.
Adjust the movement of the support bar as necessary.

If you have no experience with such devices, first try an experiment on an old pair.

Consumables

Additional components expand the capabilities of the machine:

vices - they can be universal, for any pair, or they can be selected professionally for specific type sports;
diamond discs for sharpening equipment, they vary in color and diameter;
adapters from larger to smaller diameter;
diamond groove pencils;
whetstones, for removing burrs.

Specifics

Sharpening skates has its own characteristics. Before the process, it is clarified where exactly the athlete will play - on an artificial or natural ice, weight category, riding style. When playing hockey, an important parameter is the place on the team as an attacker, goalkeeper or defender.

The depth of the groove is adjusted depending on the use of the equipment:

in figure skating it reaches 5-6 mm;
for hockey - 20mm;
for speed skating - 45mm.

If burrs are found on the equipment, sharpening is not necessary.

Signs that equipment needs sharpening

How to understand that it’s time to sharpen your skates:

there is no groove on the blade or it is covered with rust;
when a turn is made, the blades move to the side;
the runners slide during repulsion.

How to carry out the procedure at home

You will need:

A vice for clamping the dies, otherwise the skate will slip out.
A needle file is a round file. With its help, the groove becomes even.
A block with a hole the width of the blade.

How to sharpen:

Place the equipment horizontally, clamping it with a vice. Place a block with a file inside on top.
Use a file to make a hole. Move it sideways until the groove becomes noticeable.
Continue the procedure until a sharp edge appears.

Now sanding is done: wrap the file in sandpaper and run it along the blade without touching the edge.

Methods

There are two sharpening methods: straight and grooved. Skates go on sale straight sharpened. But in practice, this method does not justify itself. Although high speed is achieved and there is the possibility of sharp braking, maneuverability comes to naught.

Sharpening under the groove develops equal speed straight, makes movements maneuverable, but braking is difficult. It is preferred by hockey players and figure skating athletes.

FTB - sharpening. Used on European ice, is used infrequently in Russia. European matches take place on artificial ice, so the emphasis is not on speed, but on the grip of the blade with the coating.

How to distinguish sharpened equipment

Let's look at several visual signs of sharpened equipment. A sharpened pair of skates has a groove on the inside. The lateral ribs are sharp and of equal thickness. Sports palaces will help you get the job done professionally.

In this article we will talk about skate sharpening machines presented at Aliexpress.

Each sports equipment requires careful care and preparation. How the athlete performs directly depends on this. In this case, sharpening is important for skates. Moreover, this is necessary not only for professionals, but also for those who like to ride. It is fashionable to purchase a special machine at Aliexpress at a favorable price.

Skate sharpening machine on Aliexpress: catalog, photo

Skates today are extremely popular not only in professional sports, but also among recreational skaters. To use one pair of skates for a long time, you need to spend them periodically. The very first devices were somewhat primitive, but with the development of technology they also changed. Modern skate sharpening machines consist of a rotating grinding disc and two diamonds that can work on any surface.

Today, electronic models of devices are very popular, allowing you to make some settings and use skates based on their parameters. For some machines, the program is capable of saving and reproducing these parameters.

The main purpose of the machine is to make skating convenient and fast. Stability on ice depends on how well they are sharpened. Today, manufacturers are actively creating universal devices, as well as highly specialized ones that can work with only one type of blade.

It is worth noting that each type of skate has its own sharpening characteristics, and therefore you should choose a machine based on what products you plan to work with.

As a rule, skate sharpening machines have:

Blade holder with screws
Metal dust suction device
Abrasive discs and diamond wheel
Swivel lever for smooth sliding along the blade of the working tool

How to make a machine for sharpening skates with your own hands?

A ready-made skate sharpening machine is not that cheap, so not all novice athletes can afford such a purchase. In this case, you can buy a used unit or make it yourself.

Such machines will allow you to manually sharpen skates with a stone. This is a very simple equipment suitable for beginners and amateur professionals. You can watch the video to see how to properly make the machine yourself.

Video: Homemade skate sharpening machine

Skate sharpening machine on Aliexpress: sale, discounts, free shipping

There are also small promotions that are held every day. These include: , "Day discounts in the Mall", And . You can find out about current sales at home page Aliexpress in a special block:

Don't forget the possibility of receiving cashback. It is provided through special services. We talked about the most popular ones.

An excellent game or performance on skates is only possible with the help of a properly sharpened blade. The ability to perform sliding, stopping, curly parts, and stability depend on the quality of sharpening. This question very serious. But what types and methods exist? Is a manual skate sharpener suitable? What are the standard grooves?

Circumstances indicating that it is time to sharpen:

sports shoes were recently purchased and do not have the characteristic groove;
at the moment of acceleration, slipping becomes more frequent;
when turning, the blade seems to be torn to the side.

Types of sharpening

There are only three most common types:

Standard. They are sharpened in the shape of a semicircle, the channel is rounded on the inside. The size of the groove is individual, corresponding to the athlete’s body weight, the quality of the ice, for a hockey player - the playing location, for figure skating - whether jumps will be made or not.
Channel-Z It has two grooves: a semicircular one and a square one. How much the radius should be is selected according to the same parameters as the standard one, but with a smaller coefficient. The internal second groove does not create resistance without maneuvering, but only helps during manipulations on the skating rink.
FBV. The gutter channel has a trapezoidal shape. The superiority of this type is its rigid grip on ice and good stability. The disadvantage is very rapid wear.

Preparation

the tool for work must be harder in composition than the runners;
the thickness of the ribs after should be uniform;
the goal is to maintain the primary configuration;
sharpening occurs at an angle of 90 degrees.

Ways to sharpen

The easiest way to sharpen the edge is with the help of a professional using special equipment. But sometimes you need to learn how to use a skate sharpening device with your own hands.

At home

There are several options for sharpening the edge of sports equipment yourself.

Using a needle file

To work you will need a needle file round shape and the required diameter, a block of wood for sharpening U-shaped skates, a vice. The file is manually inserted into the wood and clamped with a vice. The block is installed in front, and the contours of the gutter are outlined moving backwards. The recess is sharpened to the required depth, then all burrs are removed with a file.

Using a grinding wheel

Necessary tool: grinder with a grinding wheel, narrower in width than the groove itself, clamps. The skate is secured and the contours of the intended groove are drawn. They start working from the front, adjusting the depth.

Manual sharpening

Worldwide well-known companies Decathlon and Nordway created additional accessories, intended for straightening, sharpening, and removing rust from skates. Due to their compact size, they are convenient to use and always carry with you. The Nordway brand skate sharpening device contains plastic and grindstone, and Decathlon use ceramic materials.

Dies

Dies for sharpening skates - a device for home sharpening “straight” (used in Russian bandy).

Devices for rapid resuscitation

There are times when, instead of accelerating, you slip on the ice and “jump out” from the intended trajectory. This usually occurs due to a dull blade. The following will help you quickly solve the problem:

Skate whetstone - removes burrs;
slingshot for skates - restores the littered edges of the gutter.

On the machine

Of course, nothing can replace the machine point. There is more than one option manufactured for this purpose. The most popular and economical option- SZK-1. It is used in skates for hockey and figure skating.

There is an option to do homemade machine from a converted electric planer. To do this, you need to replace the knife in the power tool with an emery disc for sharpening skates.

Attention! There is no need to sharpen the rib too often. Each blade has its own limitations, which means that regular sharpening will shorten the life of the tip.

Table of standard grooves for hockey

Important sharpening requirements

IN correct sharpening The following mistakes must be avoided:

Having the inner and outer parts of the blade made differently disrupts balance on the ice and balance.
The amount of steel removed is not the same in all areas. Leads to loss of balance and the blade will lose support.
The profile and radius of the gutter are incorrect. Leads to poor ride quality and loss of control.

Important terms:

Blade sharpening should move forward using European style, providing reduced friction and improved ride quality.
High speed is obtained by combining different profile and groove radii.
Each specific sharpening is used for a specific riding style. For example, the binary chute was introduced specifically for the “butterfly”, which requires good grip on the ice, immediate movements in different directions, and changing vertical positions. Sliding movements are achieved by different sharpening at the toe or heel and in the middle (the sharpening is duller there, and sharper at the edges).
Excessively aggressive sharpening in the toe area is dangerous for reverse movement.

Finishing the skates until they are ready

In order to ultimately achieve sharpness and the desired radius, the blade must be fully processed. There are several variations:

All burrs are removed with a special abrasive stone.
The polishing stone destroys all particles remaining from grinding.
A rough finishing stone grinds the edge of the blade to the desired angle. If you use special oil, the friction force of the blade on the ice and the mass of stuck snow will decrease.

Checking completed work

You can evaluate the correctness of sharpened blades as follows:

Inspection. The edges of the blade must be symmetrical, without chips or chips.
We pass a small thin piece of plastic with equal force over different areas and then inspect the trace. When the same depth is formed on all parts of the mark, the skate is sharpened correctly and efficiently.
When exhibiting on the ice, they must stand straight, without bending to the side. This indicates good sharpening.
The owner must put on shoes, go out onto the ice surface and check how the blade behaves during shocks. If there is no slippage, you are ready to play.

Pros of high-quality sharpened skates:

balancing and maximum control of the leg;
the sliding process becomes faster and better;
improved acceleration and intense rotation;
confidence in movements on the ice;
enjoying the ride.

Attention! To keep your skates sharp for a longer period of time, it is advisable to use covers when walking on a hard surface (floor, steps in the entrance, asphalt).

Ignoring wear and tear not only reduces speed, but can also be dangerous. Timely sharpening of skates can be carried out in or on professional equipment. The main thing is that sharpening can improve not only the athlete’s physical fitness, but also give him confidence in his own abilities.

Ice skating is one of the most popular sports. However, over time, ride comfort can decrease significantly. This is due to the blade losing its original shape. The only way out is to sharpen it. If there is no desire (or opportunity) to contact a specialized service, you can do this work yourself.

A little about the specifics of sharpening

The main mistake beginners make is trying to make the blade as sharp as possible. This will lead to loss of stability and, as a result, possible injury. If you look closely at the end of the blade, you can see a groove. It actually forms 2 planes of contact with the ice surface. Under the influence of friction, the ice melts, forming a layer of water. It is this that promotes better gliding.

Skate Blade Configuration

The basics of skating at home are as follows.

After its completion, the blade configuration should be as close as possible to the original factory one.
No burrs or uneven thickness on each plane of the blade.
Availability of appropriate tools.

For reference, the depth of a figure skating groove is about 5-6 mm. This promotes better maneuverability, but affects stability. The deeper the groove, the easier it is to stay on the skates. For hockey models this parameter is usually 20 mm. Speed skating has the deepest groove - up to 45 mm.

Methods

Blade sharpening comes down to restoration original sizes gutters. To do this, you can use manual or electric tool. In case of infrequent use of skates, you can limit yourself to a simple needle file installed on wooden block. But if skiing occurs frequently or there are several lovers of this winter sport in the house, it is recommended to use a power tool.

Needle file

The main tools you will need are a vice, a file (round) of the appropriate diameter and a wooden block. The latter has U-shape, into the groove of which a needle file is attached.

Manual sharpening

After securing the skate in a vice, you need to perform the following steps.

A block with a file is placed on the front part of the blade and the contours of the groove are outlined using a reverse movement. If sharpening has not been carried out for a long time, then the groove may be completely absent.
Having outlined the depth line, compare the sizes of future ribs. They must be completely identical in thickness.
With great effort, the recess is deepened until the desired value is reached.

The final stage is removing the burrs. This can be done using a fine-grained file or a flat file.

Grinding wheel

A grinding wheel is attached to a fixed grinder or drill, the thickness of which should be 0.5-1 mm less than the width of the groove. The ridge should be secured with clamps to a steel angle. Attention - its height must be adjusted.

Sharpening with a power tool

The contours of the recess are then manually drawn. Sharpening is done from the front of the blade. Thus, even if there are undetected burrs, they will not greatly affect the quality of sliding.

Hello friends!
Well, summer has begun here, and we need to prepare for winter now, so as not to look like that turtle from the old Soviet cartoon, which was always late right time of the year. I invite all curious people to visit under cat.

When skating on city open-air skating rinks, you should not trust the constancy of the ice surface, because the asphalt is hidden everywhere, but 5-10 such holes and the skates slowly begin to get bites on the edges of the blade.
For a long time, the thought did not leave me: “If the Chinese counterfeited the Apex Edge Pro for sharpening knives, and quite efficiently, then they could come up with something for sharpening skates?” And yet, yes, they came up with it (or copied it), it doesn’t matter at all, the subject exists, without thinking for a long time, I found it on Ali, grabbed the card, ordered it and waited.
What can I say, I haven’t found any more such devices on Ali, and you can count the orders for it from the seller on the finger of one hand.
Let me point out right away that I’m not saying that this is a professional sharpener and that it is a panacea, no, excuse me. It's just pocket rule and no more.
P.S. Photos are taken with a mobile phone, again, do not throw stones.

The product with track number RC229190690CN arrived quite quickly, only 20 days passed from sending to receipt (oh, it would always be like this). I took all the notices and went to receive gifts from Chinese Santa Claus.

In your hands is a small, inconspicuous envelope, weighing only 42 grams, with a treasured rule inside.

The weight of the sharpener is only 32 grams, the clearance between the walls is 3.2 mm.

His inner world is limited, but not meager. 5 bolts, 5 plastic washers.

And also a barrel with a diamond (according to the seller) coating, with a diameter of about 12 mm.

After sharpening, the groove on the ridge becomes 0.25 mm deep.

Too much time has been devoted to this little hero from China, it’s time to acquaint you, dear readers, with the principle of its operation and my primitive method of sharpening crippled skates.
About the skates, it’s worth saying that the patient is more likely alive than dead, but my craving for beauty, as well as the desire to save money, led to the next experiment.
The first horse with recorded beatings is sent to the changing room

Before starting “sharpening” using the apex edge pro method, I ran a marker across the test site to study the uniformity of the removal of the metal layer.
In general, the result more than surprised me, the removal is more or less uniform, I sin on the factory sharpening, because the skates are the well-known Nordway from Sportsmaster.

The sharpening process is painfully simple - we place the subject on the blade, apply slight pressure on the stone and move it from stem to stern until the traces of the marker completely disappear. In general, the process of sharpening one skate takes 10-15 minutes, after which the following picture appears before us:

Is the nail cut off on the edge? Answer: yes
Worth buying? Again the answer is yes! The purchase costs 350-400 rubles, one sharpening at market prices is 150 rubles. Judge for yourself.
Thank you for your attention.